MewsNEWS November 2004

Message from the President

Dear Mews Owners and Residents,

By the time you read this, we will know who our president will be for the next four years. As a responsible citizen of the United States, you voted on November 2 and helped decide the election.

How can you be a responsible member of the Fairlington Mews? Many of you have done that in the last month as we have undertaken some repairs and replacements.

When some Mews citizens felt the masonry work wasn't being done properly, they called to tell the Management Company and the Mews board about it. When some Mews citizens felt the roof replacement wasn't going well, they called. When the new signs were put up, they called.

Since all of the Mews board members have full-time jobs, we cannot always be the eyes and ears of the Mews, so we are very appreciative when you let us know your concerns.
In all these cases the board attempted to fix whatever needed to be fixed.

Now the Mews Board needs additional help. Gedeon Werner, a member of the board, has a new job which means he will be out of the country more often than in the past. He has resigned his board position, and the Mews Board needs to appoint a new member to serve until the annual meeting in June.

We are asking any Mews citizen who is interested in serving until June to write a letter of intent stating their reasons for wanting to be on the board of directors. That letter can be sent or given to any board member before Friday, November 26th. We will then appoint someone at the Tuesday, November 30th meeting. This is according to ARTICLE IV, Section 6 of our by-laws (page 42).

Here is one last word about the new signs. The board spent many hours deciding on the design of the new signs. We were restricted by the county's requirement that any information about towing must be in letters three inches high.

Since one of the criteria for changing the signs was to make the addresses more visible, the signs had to be larger. However, the board directed that the signs be placed no higher than four feet. When board members arrived home on Thursday, we were unpleasantly surprised to see the height of the new signs, as were some of you. The board directed management to lower the signs, and that issue is now resolved.

The board of directors of Fairlington Mews wishes everyone Happy Holidays and a bright New Year.

Gretchen Martin

703.933.1368

News

Muse

Finance Committee Goals Outlined

As many of you know, one important issue raised during last June's Fairlington Mews Annual Meeting was the status of the Replacement Reserves fund. Some residents were concerned because the balance in this Fund has been reduced in recent years due to significant expenditures. The Replacement Reserves fund is used for large expenditures, such as roofing and pipes throughout the Mews.

To address these concerns, the Board solicited volunteers to participate in a Finance Committee. The Committee will conduct analysis to make recommendations to the Board as to what might be done with regard to the Replacement Reserves fund. The Board has asked the Committee to address two main points:

1. The Finance Committee will look at the Replacement Reserve analysis report done by Seal Engineering and compare it to the Mews FY 2005 budget. This could also be done for FY2006 and FY 2007. The question to be answered: Will there be a shortfall?

2. Based on this information, the Committee will recommend a target amount for the Replacement Reserve fund and will make recommendations concerning the funding, whether by adding a percentage of the budget each year or by adding an absolute dollar figure.

The Board has asked the Committee to report back by the January 25 Board Meeting. Once that work is complete, the Board will report the findings and any actions that may come as a result of the findings.

In the meantime, if you are interested in volunteering for the Finance Committee, please contact Ben Marglin at marglin_ben@bah.com or 703.671.7281.

Click Here, Dude!
Fairlington Web Site Resources

Many of you already have visited and made good use of this Community web site - www.fairlington.org. Here are some helpful links:

· Mews Handbook www.fairlington.org/mewshand.htm

· Board Minutes/Newsletters www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm

· Condominium Resources Site www.fairlington.org/condoresourcepage.htm

· Emergency Preparedness Page www.fairlington.org/emergencypreparedness.htm

Volunteers

Work

Landscape Committee

Meeting regularly in September and October, the Mews Landscape Committee considered the fall planting proposal from Environmental Enhancements and a pruning proposal from Don Hook’s tree services. Members did a walk around with Don Hook on September 16 to determine immediate pruning needs. The Mews Board of Directors approved in September landscape work of over $9,000 to be completed this fall.

The committee has received several requests from residents which have been completed or will be completed as part of contracted fall work. We appreciate input from residents as it indicates an interest in the grounds work and an awareness of our committee’s desire to improve our landscape. We may not be able to have all requests completed immediately, but we are making steady progress in improving our grounds’ appearance!

Recently Arlington County under the direction of Tony Ruth and Jamie Bartalan was instrumental in pruning the Bradford pear trees in Court 1, removing the tree stumps adjacent to Court 1, removing two dead street trees adjacent to Mews property, and pruning deadwood some trees along 34^th St. We are working with the City of Alexandria to see that the roadside along King Street is cleaned of debris.

We are proposing the removal of some trees in the commons area. Please understand that a tree is removed only when there is a safety issue, a tree health issue, or a tree longevity issue. No tree is arbitrarily removed. Some of our trees are in decline – the dogwoods, Hemlocks, and pines (near the double tennis courts) are some examples. Their unhealthy conditions are due to environmental factors, unsuitability of the plant material for this area, and the increase of disease in the “urban forest” setting.

Again, the committee thanks those residents who are properly maintaining flowers near their units. All will agree that the entire community benefits from such efforts.

We would especially like to thank Court 10 residents for their concerted efforts in dressing up that area! Since residents of this court do not have any lawn to buffer them from the street, their flowers add a welcoming touch to the area. Thank you all for your work!

We have three leaf removals scheduled as part of the fall clean up:

(1) between October 20 – November 5,

(2) three weeks after the first removal (before Thanksgiving), and

(3) between December 15 – 20 (before Christmas).

Residents who have maintained flower borders during the growing season are reminded to clean up and to dispose of plant debris (properly bagged, of course!) as the community prepares for the end of the growing season.

The committee welcomes Judith Gurney as a new member. Judith, a resident of Court 9, maintains the lush flower beds near the tennis courts. Any interested resident may join our little group; we meet regularly on the second Monday of each month at the South Community Center. To be on the safe side about meeting schedule, give a call to verify the meeting date and place.

The Mews Landscape Committee makes every effort to notify residents affected by the installation of new plant materials, scheduled prunings, and the removal of overgrown plantings. Sometimes (as we are a small, volunteer group) we may overlook someone who needs to be notified. We apologize in advance if this happens.

You probably have seen us out and about; stop us and say “hey” and share your impressions of our landscape. We are quite pleased with the progress made this growing season with the expert care of Environmental Enhancements under the direction of Fred Peratt. We also appreciate the kind words we have had from many of you regarding the overall appearance of our community.

The Committee meets regularly on the second Monday of each month. Contact Tom Corbin (tomrcor@aol.com) or Lori Olivas (lorolivas@comcast.net) for further information and include “Mews Landscape” in the subject box.

Neighborly Reminders

Winter Energy Saving Tips

The following winter energy saving tips are summarized from information provided by the Energy Information Administration, a division of the United States Energy Department. More detailed information may be obtained from www.energysavers.gov, a site maintained by the Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

1. Keep heat from escaping from your home. Rozanne Weissman, energy expert of the Washington Alliance to Save Energy, recommends holding a lit candle on a windy day “next to windows, doors, electrical outlets, and light fixtures. If the smoke travels horizontally, you’ve found an air leak. The solution is caulking, weather- stripping or additional insulation.”

2. Keep drapes, shutters, and blinds on windows with a southern exposure open during daylight hours to take advantage of warming sun rays.

3. Turn your thermostat down a few degrees, especially when leaving home for a long period of time.

4. Keep furnaces and heat pumps in good working condition. Have equipment checked and serviced regularly in the spring and fall to maintain optimum efficiency.

5. Turn the hot water heater thermostat down to 120 degrees rather than leaving it at the more-typical 140 degrees.

6. Invest in a programmable thermostat. Costs range from $30 - $100.

7. When purchasing new windows, furnace, heat pump, or appliances, look for the “energy star” on products being considered.

8. Make sure your storm door is properly weather-stripped and closes tightly.

9. Run the dishwasher only with a full load. The same applies to your washer and dryer.

10. Make certain your attic insulation is up to code. (Information summarized from “Warding Off Winter’s Chill”. Washington Post. 16 October 2004. F22.)

Dryer Vents

Recently a Fairlington resident reported that his dryer was not working properly. He called a repairman to check it for the cause. They discovered that the vent was clogged with lint and was ready to catch fire. Residents should check vents and lint screens regularly to prevent potential vent fires.

Making Your Home Safe from Possible Burglars

If you are out of town on business or traveling for the holidays or a winter vacation, there are some tell tale signs to burglars that you are not at home alone! Preventing a possible burglary is easy by being aware of the following actions:

· Have a neighbor check your house daily to pick up newspapers, flyers, or packages left at your door. (Also have your neighbor check under sinks and around commodes for possible leakage. We have all heard horror stories of returning residents who find a flooded kitchen, bath, or basement.)

· Leave lights on at night and vary each day which lights are left burning.

· Never leave your porch light burning during day light hours. This is a sure sign to possible burglars that no one is home or watching your property.

· Never leave your blinds, curtains, or shutters shut tightly all the time when you are away. Have a neighbor open and close them each day as you would when at home.

· Leave keys with neighbors. In the event of an emergency, someone will be able to enter your residence.

· Tell your neighbors you will be away; give a contact phone number where you may be reached in an emergency; and give leave and return dates.

Daily Life in the Condo Association

Squirrels and Trash

All of us have returned home only to find that morning’s trash scattered over our porch or walkway as a result of hungry squirrels. You can prevent this by putting a few drops of ammonia into the trash bag or spraying some insect repellent into the bag.

Vehicle Parking

· Remember Arlington County law says that cars must be moved on the street every ten days. Avoid a ticket; obey the law.

· All cars parked in lots must display current Arlington decals, license plates, and inspection stickers. The Mews Board of Directors allows Arlington County Police to enter lots to check for current licensing, decals, and inspection stickers.

· Residents who live in the Mews must register their automobiles with Arlington County and obtain the proper Arlington County decals. This is true for all residents’ vehicles. Arlington County Traffic enforcement may be reached @ 703- 228- 4141.

Trash (Yes, Another Reminder!)

· Please remember that all trash (including garden and pruning debris) must be properly bagged and left in front of your unit by 7:00AM for pickup. Items placed out the night before pick up attract rodents. (Yes, there are rats, opossums, foxes, and raccoons in the area.)

· Large item pick up (see Mews Handbook, 1999) occurs only on the first Saturday of each month.

· Residents may arrange and pay for special trash pick up by contacting Jeffrey’s Trash Service @ 703-591-9550.

· Consider having the installer take away old appliances when you purchase new appliances.

· Please promptly remove any items not picked up by Jeffrey’s Trash Service and make personal arrangements to have them removed.

· Recycle cans/ plastics/ glass (separate from regular trash) on Tuesdays and newspapers (paper bagged or bundled with string) on Wednesday.

Arlington County “After Hours” Water and Sewer Contact

Recently a water main break along Four Mile Run affected early morning water supply throughout Fairlington. Many residents wondered if the problem was solely with their unit.

Arlington County “After Hours” Water and Sewer contact number is 703-228-6555.

Common Areas and Storage

Please remember that condo rules and regulations prevent the storage of any personal items on common areas and in the stairwells/ hallway areas of the multi-unit buildings. Such items may be considered trash and removed by management.

Outside Faucets

Remember to turn off your outside faucet before the onset of winter. Valves controlling outside faucets are located inside your unit. After turning the inside valve off, open the outside faucet to drain and leave it open. Don’t forget to turn the outside valve off before reconnecting and using in the spring.

Board

Minutes

Highlights

Complete, detailed Mews Board Minutes can be found on the Fairlington Web Site at the Mews Home Page:

www.fairlington.org/mewsindex.htm

September 28, 2004

· There was general discussion of the masonry work to stoops and the repairs for Court 10 and the fire lane to the pool, as well as mechanisms for long-term funding of such projects.

· Gretchen Martin discussed concerns by some residents about the roofing work being done

· Resident Don Taylor suggested that the Mews should have a designated coordinator for projects so that work can be regularly monitored to ensure that it is being done according to contract.

· The Landscape Committee presented its proposal for fall work, outlined in a report that had been submitted to the board. The board approved the committee’s request to use $9,631 from its budget for the work outlined in the proposal of September 21, 2004 from Environmental Enhancements.

· The Recreation Committee reported it is considering shade structures for the pool enclosure. The committee had recommended earlier that any complete replacement of the pool deck be done much later as the current deck was in fair shape and could continue to be repaired and be satisfactory for the near term. It was suggested that the board consider setting up a reserve fund to replace the deck as it will be an expensive proposition when the time comes; further discussion on this was deferred until the finance committee makes its final report. The board discussed a proposal by management that Century Pool Company be responsible for opening and closing the pool. There was unanimous disagreement for this proposal and the board restated its satisfaction with the work done by World Pool.

· The board agreed to repair the net at the 34th Street tennis court and brace it according to recommendations submitted by the tennis chair, Roger Taylor.

· The Newsletter Committee asked for input and material from the board for the next newsletter which would be published in November. The committee added that the last issue cost significantly less than earlier issues.

· The August leak in Court 13 was discussed, which turned out to be a problem with a county water main. The board voted to allocate $8,273 for asphalt repairs in Courts 10 and 13.

· The contract for the Leafguard gutters was approved.

· The board acknowledged the request from Arlington County’s Commissioner of the Revenue for a list of community residents so that the County can advise vehicle owners of the tax obligation they may have to Arlington County.

· The board agreed that it would not respond to anonymous letters.

· The board requested that the instructions to the finance committee be published in the next Mews News.

October 26, 2004

· The Landscape Committee presented its report. There was discussion of a multi-year contract with Environmental Enhancements. The committee presented its plans for pruning work over the winter.

· The Recreation Committee reported that the pool contract for 2005 would be in this week and presented at the next meeting.

· The monthly financial report was reviewed in detail. There was concern over the final cost of the engineer’s report on the condition of the tennis courts, with a recommendation that parameters be set for future reports to avoid such surprises.

· Management reported that rates for water and sewer increased noticeably on July 1, and that utilities would be higher than anticipated this year.

· Delinquent accounts were discussed.

· Residents with domed window-well covers would be notified that such covers would have to be removed, following up on the notice that was sent in May.

· Masonry repairs were proceeding slower than expected.

· The roof replacement had been completed but gutters remained to be installed.

· The board members agreed to split courts among them so as to be able to follow up on work orders by residents.

· There was considerable discussion about the new parking lot signs. Gretchen Martin and David Biette explained that the new signs were designed to convey information and for visibility, so that the address portion of the sign would be the most prominent part of the sign.

The height of the towing language lettering is dictated by Arlington County and the committee felt that the towing language should *not* be the most important of the signs.

Since the new signs were bigger, the placement of some signs had to be changed. Siting the signs was based on the needed room for the sign, visibility of the sign from the street, a desire to keep the signs 3 feet from curbs or sidewalks, keeping them where possible off tree lawns, and general aesthetics as each court is different.

It was the committee’s intent that the new signs be placed at the same height as the old signs; the board voted to reiterate its desire to have the signs 15" from the ground.

The board also acknowledged unnecessarily long telephone messages from some residents regarding the signs, and that board members had given explanations of the interim work. The board requested that the sign in Court 2 be moved to the tree lawn.

· The board denied a request to replace a front entry door at 4602 S. 34th Street since the door did not match the existing door; a variance request for a new storm door was approved.

· A variance to remove a wall between the kitchen and dining room at 3520 S. Wakefield Street was approved provided that all work is done according to Virginia and Arlington building code.

Highlights

Inside